Territory



(Nd Model.) I

J. A. OLSON.

CHECK HOOK.

No. 360,462, PatentedAprr 5, 188'7.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOHN ANTHONY OLSON, OF LITOHFIELD, MINNESOTA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN BERNARD STEFFEN, OF BATHG ATE, DAKOTATERRITORY.

CHECK-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,462, dated April 5,1887.

Application filed June 1, 1886. Serial No. 203.375. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN ANTHONY OLsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Litchfield, county of Meeker, State of Minnesota,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Hooks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to checl -hool s for harness, and has for itsobject the secure retention of the check rein by a means simple,efficient, and cheap.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing thesafety-catch in position to prevent the escape of the checkrein. Fig.2is a perspective view showing the latch in position to allow removal ofthe check-rein. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the latch and paw].

Similar numbers and letters refer to similar parts throughout.

1 is the security-latch. 2 is the pivoted pawl. 8 is the check-hook. 4is the standard.

a is a wedge-shaped or otherwise suitably shaped piece of metal or othermaterial, provided with short jaws Z) b in front and longer jaws, c c,in the rear, these parts being all cast or made in one piece.

Between the lips of the jaws c c is pivoted the gravity-pawl 2, which isprovided with shoulders d d, and is pivoted at such a point as to lockthe catch against the standard by its own weight.

The standard 4 is provided with a ratchet, c, on its rear surface,consisting of a series of notches and shoulders, and is curved on itselfat the top to form a stop, f, for limiting the upward movement andpreventing the loss of the latch. The point of the check-hook approachesthe standard, leaving only'suffieient space for the ready admission orremovalof the check-rein.

The standard and check-hook are preferably made in one piece andcontinuous with a base put together by placing the standard between thejaws c c, and attaching the pawl by the pivot-pin g, and the wholedevice is ready for attachment to any harnesspad. The standard acts as aguide and stay for the latch.

In operation, when the latch is in its lowest.

position on the standard, the wedge a fits and fills tightly the spacebetween the end of the check-hook and standard, the jaws Z) b engageeach side of the end of the hook, and the pawl grips the standard fromthe rear, thus holding the latch firmly in such a position as to prevent the escape of the check-rein. By taking hold of the latch,preferably on its sides, it may be freely moved upward to any point onthe standard, and the ratchet and gravity-pawl will then hold it out ofthe way until the checkrein can be removed, but will not retain itagainst any violent shaking, such as is caused by the horse traveling,so that if, by any accidental negligence, the latch should be left inany position away from its locked position, it will fall of its ownweight into the locked p0 sition, thus giving an automaticsccurity-latch for check-hooks.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates in this application, is as follows:

1. The check-hook 3, providedwith the vertical standard 4 at the rear,the point of the hook being brought approximately near said standard,the security-latch 1, vertically movable on said standard, and the pawl2, pivoted to said latch in the rear of said standard for securing thelatch in any position on the standard, in combination, substantially asdescribed.

2. The check-hook 3, provided with the vertical standard 4 at the rear,the point of said hook being brought approximately near said standard,the wedge-shaped security-latch 1, vertically movable on said standardand provided with the jaws b I), for engaging the point of said hook andpreventing lateral movement of said latch, and the pawl 2, for securingthe latch in any desired position on said standard, in combination,substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The check-hook 3, provided with the vertical standard 4 at the rear,the point of said hook being brought approximately near said The partshaving been separately made are standard, the security-latch 1,vertically movable on said standard, the pawl 2, and thestop f at top ofsaid standard, for limiting the upward movement of the latch, incombination, substantially as described. I

4. A check-hook provided with a vertical standard at the rear, the pointof said hook approaching approximately near said stand ard, a wedgeshaped security-latch vertically movable on said standard for closingthe space between the point of the hook and the standard when in itslowest position, and a pawl or equivalent device for securing said latchin any desired position on said standard, in combination, substantiallyas described.

5. lhe check-hook 3, provided with thevertical standard 4 at the rear,the point of the hook being brought approximately near the standard, thesecurity-latch 1, the pawl 2, and

the ratchet e, in combination, substantial] y as described, for purposeset forth.

6. The check-hook 3, provided with the vertical standard 4 at therear,the point of the hook approaching near the standard, thesecuritylateh, 1, provided with the jaws b b, for inelosing the point ofthe hook and preventing lat eral movement of the latch, and providedwith the jaws c c, for inclosing the standard and giving pivotal pointsof support for a pawl, the pawl 2, pivoted to thejaws c c in the rear ofthe standard, and the ratchet e on the rear of said standard, incombination, substantially as described.

JOHN ANTHONY OLSON.

Vitnesses:

OLE OUvEnsoN, OSCAR O. Fnovarnn. 1

